Nahum 1:2

אֵ֣ל קַנֹּ֤וא וְנֹקֵם֙ יְהוָ֔ה נֹקֵ֥ם יְהוָ֖ה וּבַ֣עַל חֵמָ֑ה נֹקֵ֤ם יְהוָה֙ לְצָרָ֔יו וְנֹוטֵ֥ר ה֖וּא לְאֹיְבָֽיו׃

God, jealous and avenging, is YHWH. Avenging is YHWH and a possessor of wrath. Avenging is YHWH for his adversaries, and guarding is he for his enemies.

Morphology

1. אֵל (ʾel) – Root: אל (ʾel); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “El”; Notes: A divine title emphasizing strength and might.
2. קַנֹּוא (qannōʾ) – Root: קנא (qanāʾ); Form: Adjective masculine singular; Translation: “jealous”; Notes: Expresses YHWH’s exclusive covenant claim and intolerance of rivals.
3. וְנֹקֵם (ve-noqem) – Root: נקם (naqam); Form: Conjunction וְ + Qal participle masculine singular; Translation: “and avenging”; Notes: Participial form presents avenging as a characteristic activity.
4. יְהוָה (YHWH) – Root: יהוה (YHWH); Form: Divine proper name; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: Covenant name of the God of Yisraʾel, subject of the participles.
5. נֹקֵם (noqem) – Root: נקם (naqam); Form: Qal participle masculine singular; Translation: “avenging”; Notes: Repetition intensifies the emphasis on YHWH as avenger.
6. יְהוָה (YHWH) – Root: יהוה (YHWH); Form: Divine proper name; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The repeated naming binds the attribute “avenging” directly to YHWH.
7. וּבַעַל (u-vaʿal) – Root: בעל (baʿal); Form: Conjunction וּ + preposition בְּ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “and a possessor”; Notes: “Possessor” of the quality that follows, highlighting that wrath belongs to him.
8. חֵמָה (ḥemah) – Root: חמה (ḥemah); Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “wrath”; Notes: Refers to intense, burning anger expressed in judgment.
9. נֹקֵם (noqem) – Root: נקם (naqam); Form: Qal participle masculine singular; Translation: “avenging”; Notes: Third occurrence of the participle, creating strong rhetorical emphasis.
10. יְהוָה (YHWH) – Root: יהוה (YHWH); Form: Divine proper name; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: Explicitly identifies the avenger as YHWH and not any other power.
11. לְצָרָיו (le-tsarayv) – Root: צרר (tsarar); Form: Preposition לְ + noun masculine plural + suffix 3rd masculine singular; Translation: “for his adversaries”; Notes: Marks the target of YHWH’s avenging action.
12. וְנֹוטֵר (ve-noter) – Root: נטר (natar); Form: Conjunction וְ + Qal participle masculine singular; Translation: “and guarding”; Notes: Often in the sense of “maintaining hostility” or “keeping anger” toward enemies.
13. הוּא (hu) – Root: הוא (hu); Form: Independent pronoun masculine singular; Translation: “he”; Notes: Emphatic pronoun underscoring that he himself is the one who guards hostility.
14. לְאֹיְבָיו (le-oyevav) – Root: איב (ʾayev); Form: Preposition לְ + noun masculine plural + suffix 3rd masculine singular; Translation: “for his enemies”; Notes: Parallels “his adversaries,” strengthening the picture of YHWH’s stance against opposition.